My OperaAnswer Me, Oh My Poem
Monday, October 13, 2008 4:03:35 PM
Cryptopoem 13:
The capitalized words are the hints.
O, GOLDEN JAY, had a CRAFT quite odd;
EARNESTLY PRAYED, TO A CORNSTARCH GOD;
JUNE On the flag, with a MYSTIC hot rod;
Cook fed CREW, with A ROAST GUN roulade;
FLEECED bad guys, with a SHEEPish-like cod ;
Yes: JAY'S able CREW, was a fearless SQUAD.
For this one, we need to know something about the mythical Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece with his crew, the Argonauts. Jason was the son of the ousted King of Thessaly. When he grew up and returned, the illegitimate King, Pelias [Jason's Uncle] gave Jason a quest that he must complete before he could ever think of wresting the Kingdom back from Pelias.
Jason had to take the Golden Fleece [a golden ram's skin] from a far off land. Jason had Argus build the ship, Argo, and recruited his crew, the Argo-nauts. The crew included Boreads (sons of Boreas, the North Wind) who could fly, Heracles, Philoctetes, Peleus, Telamon, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, Atalanta, and Euphemus. Familiar names to us all?
The ship was dedicated to the goddess, Hera, and with an understanding of her protection the voyage was started. After a long trip filled with misunderstandings and adventures, Jason reached the land [modern Turkey] where the fleece was. It was guarded by the sleepless Dragon. Jason sprayed a potion [made by his wife, Medea], and the dragon fell asleep. Jason seized the golden fleece and made his way back to Thessaly.
On the trip back, the Argo passed the Sirens---the same Sirens encountered by Odysseus---and they were held in check by Orpheus who played a lute and sang to drown out the Sirens' music. Although successful in returning with the fleece, ultimately Jason broke his vow of fidelity to Medea, and he died lonely and unhappy. He is in Dante's eighth ring of Hell.
The hints in the Cryptopoem are detailed below.
Golden Jay----Jason sailed the Argo to find the golden fleece
Earnestly prayed to a cornstarch god; June on----Jason prayed to Juno, the wife of Zeus, the most powerful god; Argo is a well-known brand of cornstarch; Juno was a god(dess.)
Mystic----alludes to the mythical nature of Jason and Juno
Crew----refers to the Argonauts, the crew of the Argo
Roast gun----the anagram for the Argonauts
Fleeced----Jason and the Argonauts sailed in search of the Golden Fleece
Sheepish---the Golden Fleece was a ram's fleece
Crew----refers to the Argonauts
Squad---refers to the Argonauts
The capitalized words are the hints.
O, GOLDEN JAY, had a CRAFT quite odd;
EARNESTLY PRAYED, TO A CORNSTARCH GOD;
JUNE On the flag, with a MYSTIC hot rod;
Cook fed CREW, with A ROAST GUN roulade;
FLEECED bad guys, with a SHEEPish-like cod ;
Yes: JAY'S able CREW, was a fearless SQUAD.
For this one, we need to know something about the mythical Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece with his crew, the Argonauts. Jason was the son of the ousted King of Thessaly. When he grew up and returned, the illegitimate King, Pelias [Jason's Uncle] gave Jason a quest that he must complete before he could ever think of wresting the Kingdom back from Pelias.
Jason had to take the Golden Fleece [a golden ram's skin] from a far off land. Jason had Argus build the ship, Argo, and recruited his crew, the Argo-nauts. The crew included Boreads (sons of Boreas, the North Wind) who could fly, Heracles, Philoctetes, Peleus, Telamon, Orpheus, Castor and Pollux, Atalanta, and Euphemus. Familiar names to us all?
The ship was dedicated to the goddess, Hera, and with an understanding of her protection the voyage was started. After a long trip filled with misunderstandings and adventures, Jason reached the land [modern Turkey] where the fleece was. It was guarded by the sleepless Dragon. Jason sprayed a potion [made by his wife, Medea], and the dragon fell asleep. Jason seized the golden fleece and made his way back to Thessaly.
On the trip back, the Argo passed the Sirens---the same Sirens encountered by Odysseus---and they were held in check by Orpheus who played a lute and sang to drown out the Sirens' music. Although successful in returning with the fleece, ultimately Jason broke his vow of fidelity to Medea, and he died lonely and unhappy. He is in Dante's eighth ring of Hell.
The hints in the Cryptopoem are detailed below.
Golden Jay----Jason sailed the Argo to find the golden fleece
Earnestly prayed to a cornstarch god; June on----Jason prayed to Juno, the wife of Zeus, the most powerful god; Argo is a well-known brand of cornstarch; Juno was a god(dess.)
Mystic----alludes to the mythical nature of Jason and Juno
Crew----refers to the Argonauts, the crew of the Argo
Roast gun----the anagram for the Argonauts
Fleeced----Jason and the Argonauts sailed in search of the Golden Fleece
Sheepish---the Golden Fleece was a ram's fleece
Crew----refers to the Argonauts
Squad---refers to the Argonauts
